Stratford rowers compete in USA Olympics boat

STRATFORD Boat Club pair Suzie Radley and Amanda Bowden were presented with the Masters Pennant after taking part in a race along the University Boat Race course on the River Thames.

They were invited to row in a composite crew with other clubs in the Women’s Eights Head of the River Race and had the privilege of racing in the boat used by the US women’s winning eight in the 2016 Olympics.

The masters crew set off with a strong rhythm and maintained that for the duration of the 6.8km course from Chiswick Bridge to Putney at 31 strokes per minute, overtaking two crews and gaining on a third.

It was a solid row in tough conditions as the head wind pushed against the tide producing very choppy water. The adjusted time for masters was 20min 6sec which would have placed the crew up with some of the university A times.

High water levels meant a number of the less experienced crews withdrew from the event including Stratford’s own junior 18 girls’ boat.

Medals were presented by Olympic rower and former vice-chair of the Olympic Association Annamarie Phelps CBE.

The Masters E crew of Jane Cryer, Ruth Poulton, Katie Burman, Lin Hansen, Caroline Collins, Victoria Noyes, Clare Booth and Rona Fitzpatrick, along with cox Jen Carey, will be racing at the Vesta International Masters Head of the River Race later this month.